weebluedevil

Probably a bit of both. 'Significant' investment though....maybe stretching it.

Tav and Borna, both of whom I expect to start tonight are going to have a tough time against Lang and Bakayoko. This is I hope Beale has a plan to nullify those players by doubling down on them, otherwise we'll be in for a long night. PSV will score, so I think it maybe a case of scoring more than them. I think we may need the pace of Sima and/or Matondo to make anything happen (though I don't think either will start) and Danilo and/or Dessers being clinical when chances come along. I'm relaxed about tonight. I desperately want us to make it to the CL, but would be more optimistic about our chances in the EL groups. I just want to see a a game plan from Beale that works, players linking well, a hunger to win every dual, 90 mins of effort from every one of our players, and regardless of the result I'll be content.

@26th of foot

Yes, a case of putting all your eggs in one basket. He's a stubborn guy, Beale, if he pulls it off he will be the hero and his stock will be high, the board will trust him and most importantly the fans will trust him. If he fails (and to be clear, the league cup will not be enough).....

Agreed that any value would be based on his ability for Rangers and Romania pre-injury and potential (he's still only 24). I don't know what fee we could demand... a couple of million perhaps?

I watched Hagi's interview again, and Beale's presser earlier today. It's clear (to me at least) that Hagi wants to be a starter, he says he feels great physically and mentally, and doesn't need cameos to prove he's worth a starting spot every game. He's been out for a long time, with a serious injury and Beale cannot/will not guarantee him anything and rightly so. Hagi wants to play so his agent is looking at options. Since we would be due a decent fee (?), Beale has left him out the squad and is allowing Hagi and his agent look at those options. What else is he supposed to do? That happens in football. Candeias was in the same position and decided to move rather than fight for his place. IMO, if Candeias had stayed, he would have played. Hagi is talented enough to find regular football elsewhere at a good level, and we'd make some money off any move so it's a win/win. I'd like him to stay and fight for his place, as he DOES have something to prove two years on from 55 and a year out injured. Equally he can go with my best wishes and bank some cash for the club.

Absolutely. I loved Joey Barton too! 🙃

There is one thing that bothered me about Hagi's post match interview from the weekend. He said he had nothing to prove, and that is simply wrong. Maybe he has an inflated ego and Beale doesn't like it. Thing is we don't know why Hagi is being overlooked, but it's not worth losing sleep over. I'm more pissed that Sakala was let go.

Listen, it wouldn't bother me if we sold him and raised a couple of million to put toward the new Ryan Kent. I think his time with us is over. However, with the team not clicking and increasing doubts over some of the new recruits, I would have thought he'd get a proper chance to prove he's capable of adding value. I agree with you that he's not the quickest, but he doesn't need to be - he can turn a game around with some creative play - passes that can cut through defences (something we desperately need) and is a good finisher (in the box), he just needs game time to sharpen his tools. He had better numbers than Kent before his injury IIRC.

Glad to see Matondo included. Not surprised by Hagi being excluded, I felt his days were numbered, not that I agree with it.

Rangers 1 PSV 1 FGS: Sima

Yes. If both Ajax and Zagreb are both in EL draw, assuming we are too, we will drop to Pot 2

That's Scotland for you. That language is well over-used, even to and from friends, so shouldn't be regarded as so offensive. Plus they're correct in any case....they need to keep them honest.

I hope it doesnt come to this, but that result could be of importance to us if, as looks quite likely, we're going to drop to the EL. In that case we could be in Pot 1 of the draw, only if Zagreb and Ajax don't also make the EL group draw, as both have a higher coefficient than us. We should hope now that Sparta Prague beat Zagreb in the EL play-offs (Zagreb don't drop into the EL groups, as we would if we lose to PSV, they have to play in an EL play-off). Ajax are in the play-off of the EL, against Ludogorets, so chances are they will win that.

I didn't say our reputation in Europe wasn't high, I said we need to continue to build on our reputation. Instant success from such a rebuild was needed, that's the point. Yes, i agree the board failed us, but the point is we need a manager and team capable of winning things now. We've been patient too long.

In response to your above two posts: Let's not exaggerate otherwise the point will be missed. What the fans want and deserve and, IMO, are realistic about it, is the minimum standard that a Rangers as a club should be aiming for: 1. a team that can compete for all honours domestically and not allow the bheasts to continue mopping up trebles to their rotten hearts' desire - we need to start winning titles regularly, not one every nine years, and 2. continue to build reputation in European competition and make enough cash to continue to improve the team as required to keep us winning trophies is Scotland. In winning 55, we had the opportunity to achieve that standard, but then we f*cked it by not building on that success. The team crumbled and has now been rebuilt. It's not about instant gratification, it's about instant success. The support has been patient. Name another support base that has given as much considering what we've been through? Two titles, 5 trophies in total, now bagged across the city, since 55. If not now, when? We have been patient, too f*cking patient IMO.

Reading between the lines, I think the board have allowed Beale to refresh the squad on the basis it’s break even financially - both fees and wages. If Kamara is sold for 5m (we’d be so lucky) then that will have been achieved. If we only get 3m for Kamara we’ll have spent net spend of 2m. Beale has not been given 15m to go buy a new team, he’s been given the sale proceeds from Sakala, Colak, Kamara and Tillman compensation and freed up wages from all outgoings. Make of that what you will.

Hagi impressed when he came on for the last 30 mins and Matondo was dangerous down the right, unfortunately we couldn’t capitalize. I gave it to Dessers for two goals (one of which was inconceivably chopped off by Dick-In-Sin) and an assist.

Couldn't agree more on all 3 points! I'd just add that Sima and Lammers are downgrades on Sakala and Hagi. It feels like Beale was playing fantasy football with the squad this summer. Well he's been backed to make wholesale changes, his changes, so the pressure is on him, let's hope the board make him accountable. I hope we're wrong, obviously, but early signs aren't positive.

100% should have stood! No foul that I could see, not even a soft one. Dickinson had a mare.

If he's the only dud out of all Beale's signings, I'll take it. Unfortunately, I fear there's more.

That was Barisic's BEST game

Has Goodson lost a yard of pace or has he always been so slow?

At least I’ve got FGS

Karma to you Clubfoot, you prick